"Mom, I wish I could put Vivi in my heart because I love her so much".
Ella, 10/28/11

If trick-or-treating were an Olympic event, Ella would have come home with the gold. She leapt over the weak, boxing out the competition at the door. Her agility, even in costume, would make Lovie Smith watch in rapt attention. She was down right elegant. The "younger sister in the ice cream truck" schpeal was perfected by the third house as her fist jammed in the bowl for seconds. One thing Ella isn't is selfish. Viv, smart kid that she is, sat in the truck in a nest of blankets and mounds of goodies as her sister did the dirty work. We were so glad Viv came around because she clearly did not like the idea of being an ice cream cone this morning. The costume was completed with two creepy, cocktail swilling Good Humor employees. Hey, we aim for authenticity. Happy Halloween!

First Official Sleepover

She was up till 10 whispering in the dark....to herself. Love to the best story-teller and flashlight holder.

Collecting Leaves

Halloween is quickly approaching and our costumes are nearing completion. We've let the girls run around in their alternate costumes for the last few weeks. Here is Ella as the "Princess Ghost". She has been talking about being a princess ghost for the last month or so. Not sure what it is about this old pillowcase that makes it regal...but it's working for her. I guess it must be a continuation from last year's "Princess Clown" get-up. Jerry and I have been busy the last few nights putting the finishing touches on our actual costumes. As we sat on the kitchen floor, cutting out foam core after a long day at work I made a promise to myself for next Halloween...embrace the prepackaged costume.

In a word, the weather around here has been PERFECT. Sun and temps nearing 80 almost daily for about a week. It seems that everyone has realized that this is the last Mother Nature has to give us for a while. This weekend we hosted a smore party for our neighbors. Flames, metal skewers and a non stop supply of sugar was dispensed as worried parents sipped mulled wine. Later that weekend we packed a picnic and went the lakefront. Should have realized that large concrete slabs jutting out into a choppy Lake Michigan was not the perfect venue for a determined toddler. Jerry and I nervously unpacked our picnic and tried to entice Vivian to sit still for some curried chicken salad....ha. Moments later Ella had us running back to the car. The need for a toilet was immanent, as it always is with a three year old. Jerry and I learned long ago that only fools dilly dally. We at least were able to blow a couple of "wishers" before we headed home.

An Audience Favorite

It started off promising. Ella was so excited to put on her new purple soccer "unicorn". She sat in line, paid attention to the coach and even got a goal. That was the first five minutes. The rest of the time was spent scowling at her parents in the middle of the game. She would throw her hands up in disgust and proclaim, "They're not sharing!". She is clearly like her mother, not destined for team sports. Sharing the spotlight is the absolute worst. It doesn't help that she is half the size of the kids on the field. I tried to skillfully explain that she doesn't need to share on the soccer field...undoing three and half years of work. It was like tap dancing in a mine-field. She then immediately got back in the game and stole the ball from the second weakest link...on her team. Sorry Mia. No hard feelings?

Sweet Viv